An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 passenger jet to Nairobi crashed on Sunday. (Representational photo)
AGENCIES
An Ethiopian Airlines passenger jet crashed on a flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, killing all 157 on board, including four Indians.
The airlines and the country’s state broadcaster confirmed the casualties in their statements. The crash occurred around the town of Bishoftu, which is 60 kilometre south-east of the Addis Ababa, shortly after take-off from the Ethiopian capital. The cause of the accident is not clear yet.
The airline’s CEO Tewolde Gebremariam told reporters, the pilot of the ill-fated aircraft sent out a distress call and was given clearance to return. However, the plane crashed before it could return to safe ground.
The Boeing 737 Max-8 was carrying passengers from 33 countries. The airline’s CEO said those included 32 Kenyans and nine Ethiopians. Authorities said other victims include 18 Canadians and four Indians.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has offered condolences to the victims’ families.
They were among the 159 people who perished on board.
RIP our daughters#ethiopianairlines #ET302 pic.twitter.com/wsZr0nQrtK
— The TRENDY Typist™ 🇰🇪 (@TheTrendyTypist) March 10, 2019